Wakefield housebuilder completes land acquisition to deliver new £60m Leeds development

Wakefield based housebuilder Avant Homes has acquired a 17-acre parcel of land to deliver 192 new-build homes as part of the first phase of the Skelton Gate regeneration scheme.

Formerly an open cast colliery in the Leeds Aire Valley, and located just off Pontefract Lane on Skelton Lane, the Skelton Gate development has been master planned by Templegate Developments Ltd, a joint venture between Evans Property Group and Keyland Developments.

The joint venture plans to create a community of 1,800 new homes, a primary and secondary school, public open space, a local centre and a convenience store.

Subject to planning approval, the £60m development will form part of the first phase of homes at the Skelton Gate scheme, featuring a mixture of two, three, four and five-bedroom homes across 15 of Avant Homes’ signature house designs. Of the 192 properties, 15 per cent will be designated to affordable housing.

In addition, Avant Homes has also committed to a community contribution of more than £1.1m to support local primary education provision, public transport and infrastructure.

Avant Homes Yorkshire managing director, Alastair Hart, said: “This is an incredibly exciting development for us, and will support the demand for regeneration and the delivery of much-need homes in this area of Leeds.”

The Skelton Gate development is the second Leeds based acquisition for Avant Homes in recent weeks after the housebuilder announced the purchase of a 14.7-acre site in Carlton, near Rothwell, which is set to deliver 129 new homes. It also has a site of 172 homes under construction in nearby Micklefield.

If plans are given the green light, groundworks are set to begin this autumn with the first homes estimated to be ready for occupation in spring 2023.

Alastair continued: “This deal marks a significant acquisition for us, which further extends our presence in a key location in West Yorkshire. Subject to planning, we will have three developments under construction in the Skelton Gate, Carlton and Micklefield areas of Leeds, which are set to deliver a combined 493 homes for the city.”